Newfoundland

The Newfoundland is a native North American dog from Newfoundland Island in Canada; it is not clear how the breed arrived there, though it is thought that his ancestors were brought there by fisherman arriving from Europe. Some believe his ancestors are the white Great Pyrenees, and others believe he came from a French hound. Originally an all-purpose water dog and fishing aid, the Newfoundland now is involved in water rescue. A large breed, the average male weighs 130 to 150 pounds and reaches 28 inches in height and is slightly longer than it is tall. Muscular and with heavy bones, the Newfoundland has the ability to rescue those who are drowning even in rough water. Dogs of the breed have webbed feet and water repellent coats, making swimming easier. Their strong and effortless gait also helps them excel at pulling.

Purpose

all-purpose water dog and fishing aid, draft

Date of Origin

1700s

Ancestry

tibetan mastiff

Newfoundland Health

Average Size

Height: 27-29 inchesWeight: 130-150 lbs

Height: 25-27 inchesWeight: 100-120 lbs

Major Concerns

Gastric Torsion

Elbow Dysplasia

Pulmonic Stenosis

Hip Dysplasia

Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis

Minor Concerns

Entropion

Cataract

Osteochondritis Dissecans

Occasional Tests

Cardiac

Eye

Hip

Elbow

Blood

X-Rays

Eye Examination

Physical Examination

Newfoundland Breed History

From Newfoundland Island in Canada, it is thought that ancestors of the breed were brought to the island by fisherman coming from Europe. While the makeup of the breed is not clear, some think his ancestors are the white Great Pyrenees while others feel the breed evolved from a French hound or the Great Pyrenees. There are many old prints of Newfoundlands that show what is believed to be evidence of husky ancestry and the breed shares similarities to the Labrador (and Newfoundland’s coastline is close to Labrador). Regardless, the Newfoundland evolved to be well suited to the island where he originated. Dogs of the breed are excellent in and around water. They tend to be amazing swimmers and have saved many lives by rescuing people that are drowning. In 1919, a Newfoundland was given recognition for pulling a lifeboat that held twenty people from a ship wreck. In early years, residents of Newfoundland were only allowed to own one dog; this along with the dog being exported to Europe, led the breed to decline on the island. Breeders in America had to obtain new stock from Europe. After World War II, the breed declined in Europe, leading to Europeans seeking new stock from the United States.

Newfoundland Breed Appearance

The Newfoundland is a large dog with a broad, heavy head that has a somewhat arched crown and a strong neck and back. Dogs of the breed have a wide, short muzzle; the nose of the Newfoundland is usually black, with the exception of dogs that are bronze-colored (typically brown) and the teeth meet in a level bite. The smallish eyes are deep set and dark brown and the somewhat small ears are triangular in shape with rounded tips, which hang by their cheeks. A Newfoundland’s legs are muscular, straight and parallel, with webbed feet that are helpful in the water. A strong tail is broad at its base and hangs down. The outer coat of the Newfoundland is oily, coarse and somewhat long and can be straight or have waves.

Eye Color Possibilities

Brown

Nose Color Possibilities

Black

Coat Color Possibilities

Black

Gray

Brown

Cream

Pied

Brindle

Coat Length

ShortMediumLong

Coat Density

SparseNormalDense

Coat Texture

StraightWiryWavyCurlyCorded

Newfoundland Breed Maintenance

It is imperative that a Newfoundland be brushed around two times a week with a hard brush in order to avoid its fur becoming matted. One of the heaviest shedders of all dog breeds, the Newfoundland will shed the most during springtime. Dry shampoo is recommended so as to not remove the natural oils of the coat and baths should be given only when necessary for the same reason. The breed is messy when drinking and tends to drool significantly. While Newfoundlands enjoy laying around, dogs of the breed should get appropriate exercise (including swimming as frequently as possible). Newfoundlands cannot tolerate heat, doing better in colder conditions. On days when the temperature is high, it is important that there is access to fresh, cool water and appropriate shade. As a large dog, the Newfoundland does best with a fenced in yard and sufficient indoor space.

Brushes for Newfoundland

Pin Brush

Slicker Brush

Deshedder

Nail Clipper

Brushing Frequency

DailyWeeklyMonthly

Newfoundland Temperament

The Newfoundland is sweet, calm, generous and gentle. A laid back breed, the Newfoundland is very intelligent and displays humanlike emotions. Dogs of the breed are very loyal to their family and make excellent watchdogs. The Newfoundland is suspicious of strangers and appears to have the ability to sense if someone has bad intentions. Newfoundlands love children and are very patient with them. Dogs of the breed tend to do well with other pets, although males can be aggressive with other males. While fairly inactive when indoors, the Newfoundland enjoys swimming and pulling during outdoor activity. The breed can be slightly challenging to train; training must be done in a calm, balanced way. The trainer will need to be calm, but firm, confident and consistent.

Top Newfoundland Breeders

Check out who made our list for the most reputable Newfoundland breeders of 2019.

Mooncusser Newfoundlands

Orleans, Massachusetts

Moonribbon Newfoundlands

Callicoon, New York

Bear-Acres Newfoundlands and Bernese Mountain Dogs

Bedford, Kentucky

Gentle Giant Newfoundlands

Belleville, Kansas

Precious Thoughts Family Farm

Hillsboro, Kansas

Sugar Bear Newfs

Henryville, Indiana

Happyvalley Newfoundlands

Nampa, Idaho

Newfoundland Owner Experiences

Nicholas

3 Years

3 People

House & Yard

Health

Grooming

Friendliness

Energy

Trainability

Pastimes

Sweet, intelligent, cooperative temperament. Very bouncy 120 pound teenagers but they mature into dogs with almost human emotions who take care of people, enjoy dog friends, watch over children and puppies. Need to live close to people all day long, not a yard dog. Easy to train with consistent, positive methods. Learn quickly, don't like repetition. Like to think for themselves but try to do what is right and courteous wherever they are and will trust their owners. I've had a lot of dogs I've loved, but never a dog like this one! But they take time. Managing summer heat is a huge problem. Grooming not much of a problem if you do a little every day. Don't neuter until almost 2 years to avoid hip and elbow problems. Don't overfeed.

8 months, 1 week ago

1 Year

People

Health

Grooming

Friendliness

Energy

Trainability

Pastimes

The Newfoundland I walked was such a cute teddy bear that was so sweet and excited to go for his walk. The owner had warned that the Newfoundland was a bit of a puller if he came across and crumbs of food particles on the ground. I had to keep a close eye on the Newfoundland and make sure he did not eat anything. The Newfoundland was a strong dog whose pull could sweep you off of your feet, but having said that, his love could too! The Newfoundland was such a sweet heart that wanted to play and give kisses. The Newfoundland had a thick coat that looked like it needed a good deal of grooming to be kept up. The pup received a lot of compliments for how cute he was and how large and cuddly he looked!

1 year, 2 months ago

5 Years

People

Health

Grooming

Friendliness

Energy

Trainability

Pastimes

Groom

Laying in the sun

Dog Parks

Play

Walk

Wow I had fun walking this big, ol' lady. As suggested by her owner we lumbered our way over to the dog park where she proceeded to gaze at all the other dogs from the comfort of the bench I was sitting on. Her preference was as an observer and she particularly loved leaning all of her dog weight upon my legs. Occasionally she'd pounce at another dog, romp for a brief moment, then head back to her watching post. Although we weren't out very long and likely because it was a warm fall afternoon, she was so very slobbery by the time we got back to the house. She was happy to flop onto her bed and pant away happily. She is such a fantastic dog.

1 year, 2 months ago

5 Years

People

Health

Grooming

Friendliness

Energy

Trainability

Pastimes

Sniffing

slow walking

Laying in the sun

Shopping

She was slow and sluggish but enjoyed the walk and tried to keep pace with the other dog I was walking. She liked to stop and sniff a lot. She was patient when waiting to cross streets or for the elevator and did not jump around or act hyper.

1 year, 3 months ago

6 Years

People

Health

Grooming

Friendliness

Energy

Trainability

Pastimes

Attention

Catch treats

Dog Parks

Making friends

Newfoundlands keep a very slow walking pace but have lots of energy. They enjoy being pet and told that they are a good dog, especially from new people and dogs they meet! They receive tons of attention from everyone on the street because they are so large and fluffy. They are very well mannered especially around other dogs. They love going to dog parks to make new friends with everyone they meet. They enjoy carrying around dog toys rather than chasing and playing fetch with them. They are a very loyal breed of dog!